Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Losing Ground

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students examine how effects of farming practices in the early 20th Century contributed to severe soil erosion of a large portion of the North American grasslands.
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Erosion by the Wind

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders simulate wind driven soil erosion by using paper confetti to demonstrate the movement of the soil. They write about three examples of soil erosion found in their community.
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Losing Ground

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students examine the Dust Bowl and the effects of farming practices in the early 20th century. They read a handout, and conduct and discuss two experiments simulating soil erosion.
Lesson Plan
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Erosion

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students are able to identify the causes and effects of erosion. They hypothesize ways to help curb erosion. Students are able to identify ways being used now to curb erosion. They are shown two different types of erosion, by putting...
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Soil Erosion

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders complete activities to observe the effects of erosion. For this erosion lesson, 2nd graders define erosion and learn the process. Students complete an erosion experiment.
Lesson Plan
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Agents of Erosion

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders observe and identify the effects of geological activities and weathering on Earth's surface. They also take a look at reports of events such as storms, earthquakes, floods, and volcanoes. There is a hefty hands-on activity...
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Effects of Weathering

For Teachers 3rd
Here's a great geology lesson for 3rd graders on weathering and erosion of soil. After a class discussion on how nature can "move a mountain," learners take a look at how a modern phenoma called acid rain can also cause weathering and...
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Erosion

For Teachers K - 12th
Students examine soil erosion and what causes it.  In this soil lesson students complete several experiments on soil erosion and the weathering process. 
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Explor-A-Pond: 5th Grade Soil Erosion

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders compare and contrast the rate of soil erosion along water and along a vegetation area. They observe the differences and record their information and write a hypothesis of what they think happen if the erosion continues.
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Blowing and Flowing

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders compare and evaluate the rate of erosion from water and wind on three type of landscape: bare land, land with sparse vegetation, and land covered by dense vegetation.
Lesson Plan
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Trees and Erosion

For Teachers 1st - 7th
Learners examine the connection between trees and erosion. In this erosion lesson students experiment with the effects of rain on a hillside. Learners investigate the number of trees and the amount of erosion.
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Identifying Erosion

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify erosion in various forms and explain its causes. They look for evidence of erosion on school grounds, describe it in their journals, and draw labeled rough sketches of the erosion.
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Water Speed and Erosion

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the process of water erosion. They observe the roots of a plant and discuss the concept of erosion. Next, in small groups they conduct an experiment to observe how water erodes soil on a stream table, and...
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The Earth Around Us: Air, Water & Soil

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore erosion and find the factors effecting erosion of hillsides.   In this erosion lesson, 2nd graders experiment by creating a hillside and simulating rain.  Students discuss and record their results on...
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Soil Erosion Demonstrations

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students conduct experiments demonstrating soil erosion and the benefits of conservation practices. Working in groups, they use topsoil and sand in shallow boxes as models to examine the effects of water on soil and sand with and without...
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The Water We Drink

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders relate that the quality of their drinking water is subject to the condition of the environment and water found in streams and creeks in their community. They track the travel of a wad of paper from a student's desk to a...
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Erosion

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students discover the meaning of the word erosion and discuss effects of rocks and sticks upon the soil. They then work in small groups to construct a model of erosion to make observations and then write them in their science journals.
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Science:Effects of Weathering

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders take an outdoor observation walk around the campus and take soil samples. Working in groups , they conduct experiments with rocks and soil that demonstrate the effects of different types of erosion.
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Demonstrating Erosion in Action

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students easure and record volume of water, then measure and record mass of soil. They explain the effects of the following in controlling erosion: Contouring, cover crop, strip cropping, reforestation, inter-seeding.
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HAPPY SOIL, SAD SOIL

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students will be able to identify the characteristics of healthy soil and unhealthy soil.Take the class outside to an area of thick grass near trees, if available. Compare the clothes people wear to the thin cover. Discuss the reasons...
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Agents of Erosion

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the agents of erosion. They observe rocks that are rough and unweathered and record observations. They investigate rocks rubbed with sandpaper and ones that are not and the effects that the sandpaper has on the...
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Mountains of Erosion

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study the change in land formations due to water erosion. They work in groups to build a model of a mountain that will be composed of materials that will best withstand water erosion.
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Wave Erosion Lesson

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the effects of waves as they erode coastal land. They discover how the power of water can change the appearance of land formations.
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Big Rocks, Little Rocks

For Teachers K - 1st
Students simulate the effects of erosion on rocks. Students smash cookies into smaller pieces to simulate how sandstone is created from larger rocks. Students hypothesize the types of things that could break up rocks and whether sand...